Legendary gay playwright Tennessee Williams spent several decades living and writing in Key West — and today, two longtime residents are dedicated to preserving his legacy on the island he loved. Discover the Tennessee Williams Key West Exhibit, and the guiding spirits who brought it to life.
For visitors who wonder how Key Westers live — and what lies behind their houses’ white picket fences, historic facades and gleaming front doors — home tours scheduled for December, January, February and March provide a rare chance to find out.
The Florida Keys History of Diving Museum in Islamorada is a unique 3,000-square-foot showcase of interactive exhibits. It’s also a valuable educational resource through its free “Immerse Yourself!” and “Dive Into History!” public programs — starring maritime and dive experts who help tell the story of people’s attempts to explore, understand and venture under the sea.
The lighthearted I Love Stock Island Festival celebrates the cheerfully rustic island's culture, heritage and working waterfront — with yummy culinary offerings featuring fresh-off-the-boat seafood, wine and beer tastings, history and art studio tours, watersports, live music, and much more.
On a single breath of air, Mehgan Heaney-Grier set a U.S. record for constant-weight freediving in 1996, diving 155 feet deep off the Florida Keys in an amazing display of athleticism and grace.
It’s almost inevitable — sometime this coming fall or winter, your thoughts will turn yearningly toward Key West. Maybe you’ll be drawn by the glitzy outrageousness of Fantasy Fest, or the sudden desire to spend New Year’s Eve watching the “red shoe drop” on Duval Street. Or maybe you'll just want to flee a northern winter.
Authors and artists, playwrights and poets have long been lured to the seductive island of Key West — rightfully known as one of America’s most fascinating playgrounds for creative spirits.
With 12 fireplaces and a roof steeply angled so snow can’t accumulate on it, the Custom House isn’t exactly a typical building in frost-free Key West. But it’s definitely one of the most architecturally significant — and this year it celebrates its 125th birthday.
Recognized as a prime Florida Keys boating and family destination, the Marathon and Middle Keys area is made up of a group of small islands whose names are as colorful as their vivid nightly sunsets. They include Boot, Knights, Hog, Vaca, Stirrup, Crawl and Little Crawl keys — plus Pigeon Key beneath the Old Seven Mile Bridge, East and West Sister’s Island, Deer, Fat Deer and Grassy keys.
Whether you’re an experienced or aspiring writer, a passionate reader, or simply a fan of Ernest Hemingway’s exuberant Key West lifestyle, you’ll find a rich roster of literary events during Hemingway Days 2016.